Solar Power Tree - An Artistic Design

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ISSN No: 2456 - 6470 | www.ijtsrd.com | Volume -1 | Issue - 5

Solar Power Tree - An Artistic Design

Mohd Nissar

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
(EEE), Al- Falah University, Faridabad, India

ABSTRACT

If the 19 th century was the age of coal and the 20 th
century of oil, the 21 st will be the age of sun (Solar
Energy). The demand of energy is increasing with
each period, with the result that the prices increasing
day by day. For example, with the supply of oil the
quantity of oil is decreasing and the prices are
increasing. Similarly in case of coal which is
abundantly for the production of electricity is
available for few more hundred years. Nuclear energy
produces abundant power but many fear that
repercussion of catastrophes such as Chernobyl. So in
order to fulfil the increasing demand we must
concentrate on utilising the non-conventional sources
of energy. Energy from the sun is the best alternative
among all the renewable sources. It is free,
Inexhaustible, non-polluting, eco-friendly and
continuous source of energy. The main drawback of
solar panels is the land requirement for the installation
of solar panels. But in solar tree we use very less land
to produce large amount of electrical power.

INTRODUCTION

Non-conventional energy resources which are being
produced continuously in nature and are inexhaustible
are called renewable sources of energy. There are
various sources which are used to produce the electric
power generation such as solar energy, Wind energy,
Tidal energy, Ocean thermal energy, geothermal
energy etc, but solar energy is the best alternative
among all the alternatives of non-renewable energy
resources.

A solar tree is similar to that of a natural tree but the
solar tree is the artificial tree in which photo-voltaic

Dr. Aziz Ahmad

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
(EEE), Al- Falah University, Faridabad, India

cells or modules are arranged in a Fibonacci series
pattern instead of leaves. In 1209 in Pisa, Leonardo of
Pisano, also known as “Fibonacci” used his skill to
answer a math puzzle about how fast rabbits could
reproduce in pairs over a period of time while
counting his new bom rabbits; Fibonacci came up
with a numerical sequence. Fibonacci use this pattern
in ancient Sanskrit poetry from India to make a
sequence of numbers starting with zero (0) and one
(1). Fibonacci added the last two numbers in the series
together, and the sum became the next number in the
sequence. The number sequence started to look like

this 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34. The number

pattern had the formula F n = F n -i + F n -2 and became
the Fibonacci sequence.

The solar tree produces more energy than a
conventional flat plate arrangement of solar panels or
modules. The solar energy conversion is the
conversion of sunlight energy into electrical energy
making use of sunlight directly by using the photo¬
voltaic or concentrated solar power. The photo¬
voltaic effect is defined as the generation of
electromotive force as a result of absorption of
ionising radiation energy conversion devices which
are used to convert sunlight to electricity by the use of
photo-voltaic effects are called solar cells.

A single converting cell or more generally a photo
voltaic cell, but a combination of cells whether in
series or parallel designed to increase the power
output is called solar module or solar array. Photo-
Voltaic cells are made up of semiconductors that
generate electricity when they absorb light. As the
photons are incident on the semi-conductor free

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International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470

electrical charges are generated that can be collected
on the contacts of the surface of the semi-conductor.

DESIGN OF SOLAR POWER TREE

It is a combination of artistic and technological efforts
which exists as a frame of artwork. As we already
know that the angles of the sun rays are not fixed
particularly when the season changes then the flat
plate roof tops are inefficient because they cannot trap
the maximum sunlight (solar rays) as they are fixed.
Some solar system based residential are designed with
the maximum power tracking system, that means that
the solar system or the solar panels are incorporated
with such a moving system that will rotate with
respect to the sun or in other words we can say that it
should have to be rotated from east to west facing its
panels towards south (India) after specific intervals of
time, which in turn increases the cost of the solar
system and also require a greater maintenance. So we
designed a solar power tree ( With the help of Google
sketchup - A 3D Software ) using arrays of solar
panels instead of leaves in the natural trees. Solar
power tree or solar photo-voltaic trees are the solar
structures looking like as that of real natural trees.
These trees can be framed from a small scale like
bansoi tree to a large scale like a wind turbine. This is
relatively a new idea which is conceived to use new
technologies relating to use and harvest the solar
energy. The panels are arranged in a tree in a tall steel
pole.

Tree Represents
T = Tree Generating
R = Renewable
E = Energy and
EL = Electricity

We planned to design the stems
(Rectangular/Circular) of the tree steel pipes which
support the panels. Then these panels are connected to
the inverter by the charge controller through the wires
and the power is fed to the electric grid. Also we can
install batteries which are hidden inside the ground
base to store the electric energy and the battery is
closed with proper material from protection of
mechanical damage and also from chemical effects
like corrosion etc. To trap maximum power from the
sun, Spiralling Phyllotaxy (arrangement of leaves on
stem) technique is used i.e. the panels are arrange like

a manner of like that of spring which is found in the
trees, that means this technique will help the lower
panels from the shadow of the upper ones and also the
face of the panels must be towards the direction of the
sun. The components of the solar tree are

> Solar panels

> Long Tower

> LEDs

> Inverter

> Batteries

> Stems for connecting the panels ( Circular and
Rectangular)

> Wires, Bushes, Nut Bolts etc.

SOLAR POWER TREE WORKING

Solar tree is designed to function both autonomously
and with the synchronization with the public grid.
Electric grid, it uses the energy generated by the solar
panels during the to recharge the batteries or the
power generated by the pannels which is in the form
of DC is converted into ac with the help of inverter
and it is fed to the synchronized public grid. At dusk,
which is recognised by automatically monitering the
solar panel output, the LED sources are activated and
remain lit until dawn ( As long as the batteries remain
charged). Solar tree is capable of functioning for three
consective days of cloudy or overcast weather. When
wired for co-ordinated functioning with the public
lightening grid, it uses the energy generated by the
solar pannel to recharge the batteries or the power is
fed to the public grid through the inverter and activate
/ deactivate LEDs sources in synchronous with the
grid, to which the surplus of stored current can be
relinquished. Number of solar pannels are used to
give the shape of a tree and arranged in a tall steel
tower/ pole. The total number of pannels installed will
depend on the power output which is the desired
output power we need to produce . And according to
that we have to connect the panels in series or
paraallel.

Major problems of the power system are the storage
of electric energy. Solar tree panels generate power
during the day time and this power is supplied to the
grid during the day or it can be stored in the batteries
but it is preferable to fed the generated power to the
grid and if the LEDs are installed or load is connected
then the solar tree automatically switches on its LEDs/
Load. A sensor is used to measure the amont of light
in atmosphere and triggers the solar panels to switch
“ON” automatically at sunset and “OFF” at sunrise.

@ IJTSRD | AvailableOnline@www.ijtsrd.coml Volume - 1 | Issue-5 | July-August 2017 Page: 313

International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470

Fig. 1 Solar Power Tree - an artistic Design

ORIENTATION GIVEN TO PANNEL

Load Estimation:-

Appliance

Number

Power

Daily Use

Hourly

Distribution

Daily

Energy

Lamps (LED or fluoresent)

10

7 W/ lamp

10 h/Day

Ok

280wh

TV/PC/Mobile

2

100 W/App

3 h/Day

Ok

600Wh

Domestic appliances

1

200W/App

3 h/Day

Ok

600Wh

Fridge / Deep-freeze

0

00

00

00

Dish and Cloth wash

0

00

00

00

Others use

2

100 W/App

3 h/Day

Ok

600Wh

Other use

2

50 W/App

2 h/Day

Ok

200Wh

Standby consumer

6 W tot .

24 h/Day

144Wh

Total daily energy = 2424 Wh/Day
Total monthly energy = 72.7 Kwh/ month

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International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470

Definition of Daily Household consumptions for Summer (Jun-Aug)

Consumptions Hourly distribution |

Daily consumptions

Number Appliance

Power

Daily use

Hourly distrib

Daily energy

|10 Lamps (LED or fluo)

7

W/lamp

4.0

h/day

OK

2S0 Wh

[2 - 7 ] |TV / PC / Mobile

100

W/app.

3.0

h/day

OK

GOO Wh

fl ~ 7 j Domestic appliances

(200

W/app.

[icf

h/day

OK

GOO Wh

0 - 7 -j JFridge / Deep-freeze

|0.80

kWh/day

I 240

h/day

0 Wh

0 -jj |Dish-& Cloth-washers

| 0.0

W aver.

|o.o

h/day

0 Wh

[2 |Other uses

100

W/app.

3.0

h/day

Specify hours

GOO Wh

[2 |Other uses

50

W/app.

[ 2.0

h/day

Specify hours

200 Wh

Stand-by consumers

I 6

W tot

24 h/day

144 Wh

? Appliances info

T otal daily energy

T otal monthly energy

2424 Wh/day

72.7 kWh/month

Consumptron definition by—

Week-end or Weekly use

Display Values of

C Year ^ |

l~ Use only during

(• Summer

(* Seasons

C Months

J 7 —J days in a week

r Autumn

C Winter

C Spring

Model

[j=y Load

Appliance # 6 : Please define the hourly distribution I
(second page)

Copy Values

Other profile

% Cancel

ok y

Fig. 2 Load Estimation

Selection of system voltage:-

Based on the rquirement of the system, voltage is selected and as we have a load demand less than 5kw ,
therefore the system voltage is selected as 24V dc.

Determinition of PV array size:-

The size of the PV array can be selected on the efficiency of inverter / controller suppose 90% and battery bank
and wire loss 3%. The energy requirement for the PV array size is

_ 1 _ 1

Vbatte Charge controller^Wiring 0.9x0.9x0.97

1

0.7857

1.2727

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International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470
Hence the needed from the module (PV array)

Parray = E a X 1.2727

Where E a is the average daily energy consumption in
wh/Day

Hence Parray =2424x1.2727
= 3085.0248W

Total Number of panels required:-

As we calculated above that the total energy required
from the solar panels is 3085 i.e about 3kw. And also
we are using the PV panels of 300-350wp. So we
have to install 10 panels on the solar power tree.
Therefore number of panels required =10

Total Array Current:-

The total module current Id C is calculated by dividing
the above paek watt rating by the system voltage V dc

Idc

Wpe

Vdc

Here W
Therefore I

3085

peak'

dc'

514

24

= 514 W p
= 21.42 Amp.

As we have selected solar module manufactured by
Vikram solar India. The specification of the modules
are as follows

Peak Power P max (Wp )

300

Maximum voltage V mpp (V)

37.05

Maximum Current I mpp (I)

8.10

Open Circuit Voltage V oc (V)

45.58

Short Circuit AC current I sc (A)

8.58

Module Efficiency (%)

15.63

Battery Bank Size:-

The total DC Load requirement =

Parray

system voltage

3085

24

Ah

= 128.54 Ah

Considering battery autonomy for two days total
requirement = 2x128.54Ah

= 257.08Ah

Considering the battery efficiency and Depth of
Discharge (DOD) equal to 80%

Battery capacity = 401.6875Ah

Inverter Size:-
Inverter Rating = 3 KVA

1. Specifications

l.l.Input

a. PV Voltage ( Charging Voltage ) (Voc)

b. PV current (I)

c. Battery voltage Vdc

1.2.0utput

a. Output voltage (AC) of the inverter

b. Frequency of the output

1.3. Capacity of the inverter

90 Volts
50 A

48 V (Nominal)

230 V
50 Hz

3KW

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International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470

Charge controller capacity:-

The standard plasticising the size of charge controller is to ensure that it can withstand the product of the

total current of the array IscA = IscM x Nmp and a certain fuse factor (Fsafe)

Therefore Icc = Isc x Nmp x Fsafe = 41A

Results Obtained from seizing of the proposed Solar Power tree

Component

Description of Component

Capacity

Load Estimation

Total Estimated Load

2424W

PV Array

Capacity of PV Array

514Wp

Number of modules in series

2

Number of Modules in parallel

5

Total number of modules

10

Batteries

Battery bank capacity

401.6875 Ah

Number of batteries in series

4

Number of batteries in parallel

0

Total number of batteries

4

Charge controller / Voltage regulator

Capacity of Voltage regulator /
Charge controller

41A

Number of regulators required

1

Inverter

Capacity of inverter

3KVA

Wires

The DC cable from the PV array to
the battery bank through the charge
controller

16mm2

The AC cable from the inverter to the
distribution board(DB) of the
residence

4mm2

Cost Estimation of the System:-

Component

Model

Quantity

Unit Cost
(Rs)

Cost per
component
(Total) Rs

PV Modules

Vikram Solar ELDORA

10

9000

90,000

Batteries

EXIDE

4

8000

32000

Voltage Regulator

SU-KAM SOLAR CHARGE

CONTROLLER

1

2000

2000

Inverter

CUSTOM BUILT 3KW 48V DC
TO 220/230V AC PURE SINE
WAVE POWER

1

8000

8000

Fabrication cost of the solar power tree

Metal Bars ( Circular ), Metal Bars ( Rectangular ), Metal Strips, Nut Bolts,
Rubber Bush, Plastic Box, Wires, Fuse

2500

Total Cost of the system (Rs) = 1, 34,500

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International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470

CONCLUSION:-

If the 19 th century was the age of coal and the 20 th
century of oil, the 21 st will be the age of sun (Solar
Energy). In the world oil is running out and it is
estimated that 80% of the world supply will be
consumed at our lifetimes. Coal supplies appear to be
very large but this stock will be vanished if rapidly
uses. Therefore the Solar power tree is very efficient
to capture large amount of solar energy by utilizing a
very small surface area of valuable land. They can be
installed on road side as they consume 4 sq. Feet area
for a single tree. The village roads and the boundary
walls of the paddy fields can provide sufficient space
for planting solar power trees that can supply enough
power for electrification of villages and irrigation
activities. The State and National Highways are the
big source of planting solar power trees. A simple
calculation shows that if a National Highway having
length of 300Km is installed with solar power trees, it
would produce 110MW of power.

REFERENCES:-

1) Dr. Suwama Targol “ Concept of Solar Power
Tree” International Advanced Research Journal in
Science, Engineering and Technology , Vol.
3,issue: 4, April 2016

2) C. Bhuvaneswari, R. Rajeshwari, C. Kalaiarasan,

K. M. S. Muthukumararajaguru “ Idea to Design a
Solar Tree Using Nanowire Solar cells”
International Journal of Scientific and Research
Publications, Volume 3, issue 12 ISSN: 2250-
3153, December 2013

3) Sushma Gupta, Monish Gupta “ The Benefits and
Applications of Solar Tree with Natural Beauty of
Trees” SSRG International Journal of Electrical
and Electronics Engineering (SSRG- IJEEE),
ISSN:-2348-8379 April 2015

4) Rohini Jadhao “ Solar Power Tree” International

Conference on Emanations in Modem Technology
and Engineering, (ICEMTE-2017) , Volume: 5,
Issue: 3, ISSN: 2321-8169, 2017

5) Kriti Vibhute, Ramakant Shukla, “ Economic
Electrification Using Solar Tree” International
Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology
Research (IJSETR), Volume 4, Issue 6, ISSN:
2278-7798, June 2015

6) R. Sankar, P. K. Jery Althaf,and S. Sreevas “A
Study on Low Cost Electrification Using Solar
Energy a Field Work” International Journal of
Computer Theory and Engineering, vol. 4, No. 6
December 2012

7) S. N. Maity “Development of Solar Power Tree -
An Innovation that Uses Up Very Less Land and
Yet Generates much more Energy From the Sun
Rays by SPV method” Journal of Environment
Nanotechnology vol. 2 (2013) 59-69 pp. ISSN
(Print) : 2279-074, ISSN (Online) : 2319-5541

8) Rachit S*, Vinod KG “Solar Power- Current
Status, Challenges and Polices in India” Research
and reviews: Journal of Engineering and
Technology

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